Construction apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the construction of dome-shaped structures, said apparatus comprising (1) an inner mold member having an arcuate cross-section and having an opening therethrough substantially at its midpoint, said mold member having a widened surface central section surrounding said opening and two substantially triangular shaped surface sections extending from said central section on substantially opposite sides thereof, the edges of said triangular shaped surface sections lying along radii of a circle extending from said opening, and the outer edge of said triangular shaped surface lying along the periphery of said circle, (2) a supporting member extending through said opening in rotatable and slidable contact with said mold member such as to support said mold member in vertical alignment with respect to a ground surface, with said central section of said mold member being furtherest from said ground surface, said supporting member being adapted with limiting means adjacent said opening to limit downward slidable movement of said mold member such that said outer edges of said triangular shaped section of said mold member cannot contact said ground surface, and (3) wedge members adapted to lie between said outer edges of said mold member and said ground surface and to support said outer edges apart from said ground surface such that said central section of said mold member is spaced apart and above said limiting means of said support member, said wedge members having an outer surface of configuration such as to substantially represent a continuation of the surface characteristics of the surface of said triangular shaped section of said mold member.

United States Patent [191 Bryant Apr. 23, 1974 CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS Donald R. Bryant, 926-24th Ave., North, Texas City, Tex. 77590 [76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 249/20, 425/63 [51] Int. Cl. E04g 11/20 [58] Field of Search 249/18, 5, 209, 210, 212, 249/20, 26; 425/63, 60, 64, '110, 213

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,590,448 7/1971 Bryant 425/63 3,521,335 7/1970 Heinzle 425/63 3,443,276 5/1969 Smith 425/DIG. 126

3,436,052 4/1969 Ocampo 425/DIG. 126

3,376,602 4/1968 Lowes 425/63 X 3,161,703 12/1964 Watson... 249/210 X, 3,016,595 l/l962 Durst 249/5 X I 2,296,984 9/1942 Corbetta. 425/64 1,248,643 12/1917 Furry 249/209 1,160,382 11/1915 Cooper 425/63 Primary Examiner-.1. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorney, Agent, or FirmM. N. Cheairs [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for the construction of dome-shaped structures, said apparatus comprising (1) an inner mold member having an arcuate cross-section and having an opening therethrough substantially at its midpoint, said mold member having'a widened surface central section surrounding said opening and two substantially triangular shaped surface sections extending from said central section on substantially opposite sides thereof, the edges of said triangular shaped surface sections lying along radii of a circle extending from said opening, and the outer edge of said triangular shaped surface lying along the periphery of said circle, (2) a supporting member extending through said opening in rotatable and slidable contact with said mold member such as to support said mold member in vertical alignment with respect to a ground surface, with said central section of said mold member being furtherest from said ground surface, said supporting member being adapted with limiting means adjacent said opening to limit downward slidable movement of said mold member such that said outer edges 1 of said triangular shaped section of said mold member cannot contact. said ground surface, and (3) wedge members adapted to lie between said outer edges of said mold member and said ground surface and to support said outer edges apart from said ground surface 'such that said central section of said mold member is sent a continuation of the surface characteristics of the surface of said triangular shaped section of said mold member..

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures -PATENTEUAPR23IBY4 v 3.806076 SHEU 1 OF 3 I.-'F.IGUREVM 2 INVENTOR DONALD R. BRYANT ATTORNEY PATEmEmPm 1914 3806x176 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIGURE 7 INVENTOR DONALD R. BRYANT a ATTORNEY CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the construction of circular structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the construction of structures having a dome-shaped covering.

The construction of dome-shaped buildings of con- 1 crete or other moldable materials such as synthetic resins represents a practical means for obtaining warehouses and other commercial structures, as well as housing, at relatively low cost. In addition, such domeshaped structures are very strong. However, the construction of dome-shaped buildings has presented problems. In general, the methods presently. employed for constructing dome-shaped buildings of concrete or other moldable materials requires the use of extensive and complicated forming which is itself relatively timeconsuming and expensive to construct, utilize and remove.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel method and apparatus for the construction of buildings having dome-shaped covers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel method and apparatus for the construction of dome-shaped structures of concrete or other moldable materials.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel method and apparatus for the construction of dome-shaped structures of concrete or other moldable materials which method and apparatus provides for fast, simple and relatively inexpensive construction.

Additional objects will become apparent from the following description of the invention herein disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which fulfills these and other objects, is, in one of its embodiments, an apparatus for the construction of dome-shaped structures, said apparatus comprising (1-) an inner mold member having an arcuate cross-section and having an opening therethrough substantially at its midpoint, said mold member having a widened surface central section surrounding said opening, and two substantially triangular shaped surface sections extending from said central section on substantially opposite sides thereof, the

edges of said triangular shaped surface section lying along radii of a circle extending from said opening, and the outer edge of said triangular shaped surface lying along the periphery of said circle, (2) a supporting member extending through said opening in rotatable and slidable contact with said mold member such as to support said mold member in verticle alignment with respect to a ground surface, with said central section of said mold member being furtherest from said ground surface, said supporting member being adapted with limiting means adjacent said opening to limit downward slidable movement of said mold member such that said outer edges of said triangular shaped section of said mold member cannot contact said ground surface, and 3) wedge members adapted to lie between said outer edges of said mold member and said ground surface and to support said outer edges apart from said ground surface such that said central section of said mold member is spaced apart and above said limiting means of said support member, said wedge members having an outer surface of configuration such as to substantially represent a continuation of the surface characteristics of the surface of said triangular shaped section of said mold member.

In another one of its embodiments, the present invention is a method for the construction of dome-shaped structures, said method comprising (1) constructing a mold member having an arcuate cross-section and having a widened center section from which extends 'two triangular shaped surfaces having edges lying along radii of a circle which radii extend from the midpoint of said center section and an outer edge lying along the periphery of said circle, (2) raising said mold member such that said midpoint is furtherest from the ground surface and such that the cross-section. of said mold member lies in a plane perpendicular to said ground surface, and such that the outer edges of said mold member are not in contact with said ground surface, (3) inerting wedging members between said outer edges of said mold member and said ground surface such that the outer surfaces of said mold member and said wedging members provide a substantially continuous surface, (4) covering said outer surface of said mold member with a moldable material, (5 permitting said moldable material to become set to a selfsupporting state, (6) removing said wedging members, (7) lowering said mold member from contact with said moldable material a distance less "than the .vertical thickness of said wedging members, (8) rotating said mold member upon its axis until said mold member is no longer underneath said set moldable material but has anedge of each of said triangular surfaces lying along an edge of said set moldable material, (9) raising said mold member untilits outer surface is continuous with the inner surface of said moldable materials, and (10) repeating steps (3) through (9) until said moldable material provides a dome-shaped structure.

By employing the method and apparatus of the present invention, dome-shaped structures may be constructed inexpensively and simply as compared to heretofore known such methods and apparatus. The molding apparatus requires less transportation cost to and from building site. Further, less labor is required to construct and utilize the molding apparatus. In addition, the cost of the molding apparatus is less.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention in operative position for molding a segment of a domeshaped structure.

FIG. 2 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 but showing said apparatus in position for rotation for forming a second segment of a domeshaped structure.

FIG. 3 of the drawings is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention similar to that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 of the drawings is a transverse cross-section of v the mold member of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention including an external molding feature.

FIG. 6 of the drawings is a top view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention including an external molding feature.

FIG. 7 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, but employing a different embodiment of the supporting member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION To describe the preferred embodiments of the present invention, referenceis made to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same characters are used throughout to denote like features of the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a mold member is provided. Themold member is arcuate in cross-sectional configuration as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 7. Most often, the arcuate cross-sectional configuration is substantially hemispherical. However, arcuate as used herein, shall include not only such circular configurations but also, elliptical or other curved shape.

The mold member is comprised of three segments, a center segment 10 and two outer segments 11 and 12. The center segment 10 has a somewhat widened surface as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, in comparison to the portion of segments 11 and 12 immediately adjacent thereto. Preferably, the center segment 10 has a circular configuration as shown in the drawings. In order for center segment 10 to be more effectively supported when the mold member is in its lowered position as shown in FIG. 2 and as hereinafter more fully discussed, it may be desirable that said center segment 10 be substantially flattened on its upper surface in order that the moldable material formed thereupon may have a thicker cross-section for supporting the supporting member particularly, in the embodiment of the supporting member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

' At substantially the midpoint of the mold member, which in general will be the midpoint of center segment 10, a vertical opening 13 is provided. Opening 13 is provided for the purpose of permitting extension of a supporting member for said mold member through the center segment 10 as hereinafter more fully discussed.

The outer segments 11 and 12 are substantially triangular in shape as viewed from above. The edges 14 of these outer segments 11 and 12 lie along radii of a circle having its midpoint at opening 13. The width of outer segments 11 and 12 may be such that some multiple thereof shall represent a number of segments such as to form a complete circular surface. However, in order to provide for windows, doors or for other reasons, it may be desirable that such segments be of a different size. At the outer extremity of each of outer segments 11 and 12 is an outer edge 15. This outer edge 15 generally is arcuate in configuration. The entire upper surface of the mold member generally will be shaped in accordance with the configuration of the internal surface of the structure to be molded.

Outer segments 11 and 12, as well as center segment 10, may be constructed of one or more form segments, the number generally being dictated by the size of the structure to be constructed. Usually, the mold member will be constructed in a manner similar to that' shown in the transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 4. In such instance, the mold member will comprise two or more bracing sections 16 and one or more surface sections 17. The number of bracing sections 16 and surface sections 17 will depend upon the choice of the builder and generally, upon the size of the structure to be constructed. Of course, if desired or needed, bracing may be supplied extending between bracing sections 16.

The mold member also is provided with edge mold members 18 (FIG. 4) which contain the moldable material at edge 14 of outer segments 11 and 12 and the edge 19-of center segment 10. Attachment of mold members 18 may be by any method known to the art and requires no further description herein.

The materials of construction for the mold member will vary widely depending upon the choice of the builder and upon the intended use of the mold member. Thus, the mold member may be constructed all or partly of wood, steel, plastics, and the like. The choiceof such material is well within the skill of the art and requires no further description herein. v

In order to place the mold member in operative position for molding a structure, wedges 20 are provided. The wedges 20 generally. are of a shape and structure corresponding to an extension of outer segments 11 and 12 beyond outer edge 15. Thus, the outer surface 21 of wedges 20 merely represents a continuation of outer surface 22 of outer segments 11 and 12. The end edges 23 of wedges 20 will lie along the same radii as edges 14 of outer segments 11 and 12 when wedges 20 are in the molding position as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7. Wedges 20 are placed between the outer edges 15 of outer segments 11 and 12 and the ground or other surface 24 upon which the dome-shaped structure is to be constructed. The purpose of wedges 20 is to support and aid in raising and lowering of the mold member as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 7. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 7, the upper edges 25 of wedges 20 and outer edges 15 of outer. segments 11 and 12 generally bear a tapered relationship which permits easier insertion of wedges 20 into position between the mold member and surface 24. By application of force to an inner surface 26 of wedges 20,,this tapered relation actually permits wedges20 to be usedas an aid to raising said mold member to the molding position.

A supporting member 27 is provided for the purpose of supporting the mold member as it is moved from position to position as hereinafter described, during the course of molding a dome-shaped structure. The supporting member may comprise a suspended supporting member as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein it is comprised of a single rod 28 having an upper flange 29 and a lower flange 30. In this embodiment, the length of rod 28 is greater than the sum of the cross-sectional thickness of center segment 10 and the thickness of moldable material applied tothe upper surface'of center segment 10, but less than the effective height of wedges 20. Rod 28 is then positioned such that such excess in length thereof will lie below center segment l0.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the supporting member is a rod 31 having a flange 29 at its upper end and a circular shoulder 32 positioned hereon a distance from said upper flange 29 corresponding to the hereinabove defined length of rod 28 between upper flange 2 9 and lower flange 30. The lower end of rod 31 is in contact with ground surface 24. In this embodiment, the upper flange 29 may not be required. Also, in both embodiments, the lower flange 30 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 or the circular shoulder 32 of FIGS. 5 and 7 may be threaded onto the supporting member. In such instance, they may be used to raise and lower the mold member by screwing up or down said supporting member.

To facilitate the molding of a dome-shaped structure employing the hereinabove described internal molding form, it is frequently desirable to provide an external mold form to use in conjunction with such form. An embodiment of such an external mold form is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In such embodiment, a carrying arm 33 comprised of carrying arm members 33a and 33b is provided.Carrying arm members 33a and 33b connect at their upper ends to an upper bracket 34 whichv is rotatably connected to the upper end of the supporting member 31. At the lower end, carrying arm members 33a and 33b are united by means of external form member 36 which lies within and slidably attached to said carrying arm members. The slidable attachment is by means of mounting brackets 37 which are fixed tothe back surface of external form member 36 but slide upo'n carrying arm members 33a and 33b. To adjust external form member 36 into a fixed relation to the internal mold member, locking bolts 38 are provided which extend through the outer face of mounting brackets 37 for contact with carrying arm members 33a and 33b. By means of locking bolts 38, carrying arm members 33a. and 3312 may be secured against inner face 40 of mounting brackets 37 to thereby lock externalform member 36. in a desired position. The internal surface ofexternal form member 36 corresponds to the desired external. shape of the structure being constructed. External member 36 is spaced from said internal mold member such: that it will lie substantially in contact with the outer edges of edge mold member 18. While'only one external form. member 36 is shown in the drawings, obviously it would be advantageous to employ two, one with each of outer segments 11 and 12..

Inzoperatiomthe method of the present invention begins with erectionof the internal mold member as ShOWnwiIl: FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. This is accomplished by raising;the internal mold.' member such that it takes an'arcuate; shape with respect to the ground surface 24 and insertingv wedges 20 between the outer edges of outer segments 11 and 12 and ground surface 24. The supportingmember 27 which may be a rod 28 (FIGS. 1' and.2'.) or 31 (FIG. 7) is inserted through opening 13 either before or. immediately after the internal mold member'is-raised to the molding position. Supporting member. 27 isso positioned that it will extend above the upper surface of center segment 10 but such that space exists betweenlower flange 30 or circular shoulder 32, as the case may be, and the lower surface of center segment 1.0;.However; as hereinabove described, the distancerbetween the lower surface of center segment 10 andthe'lower flange 30 or circular shoulder 32,,as the case may be; is lessthanthe effective height of wedges 20. Also, if lower flange 30 or circular shoulder 32 is threaded onto supporting member 27, it may be desirable-to threadqthem up tight against the inner surface oflcenter segment. l0 duringthe application of moldable-materials.

A layer of moldable material 41 is applied across the entire upper surfaceof the internal mold member. This moldable material may be concrete, plastic or any other suitable molding material which will set to a selfsupporting state. After the moldable material has set, wedges 20 are removed from between outer segments 11 and 12 and ground surface 24. Thereby, the entire internal mold member is permitted to be lowered until the lower surface of center segment 10 contacts lower flange 30 or circular shoulder 32 as the case may be. At such time the outer edges 15 of outer segments 11 and 12 remain unsupported and out. of contact with ground surface 24, the entire weight of the internal mold member being supported by supporting member 27. That portion of edge mold member 18 surrounding center segment 10 and on opposite edges 14 of outer segments 11 and 12 are removed.

The internal mold member is rotated to a new position in the direction opposite the edges 14 from which edge mold members 18 have been removed. 'In FIG. 3, the new position is illustrated by sections 42 bounded on one side by dotted line 43. The internal mold member is then raised and wedges 20 again forced between the outer edges 15 of outer segments 11 and 12 and ground surface 24. As is readily noted, the new position is then such that the upper surface of the internal mold member is continuous with the .inner surface of the' molded or set portion of moldable materials. The edge of the set portion of moldable material now becomes the edge mold member for one edge of outer segments 11 and 12. Moldable material is then applied across the surface of the internal mold member. This operation is then repeated untilthe entire dome-shaped structure has been molded.

In using an external form member, it is positioned initially adjacent ground surface 24 and spaced apart from the outer surface of a wedge 20 and the lower surface of the outer segment 11 or 12 as the case may be, in contact with said wedge 20. External form member 36 preferably is in slidable contact with the outer edges of edge mold members 18. Moldable material is introduced into the space between the inner surface of external form member 36 and the outer surface of the internal mold member and wedge. As soon as the moldable material has set to a self-supporting state, the external form member 36 is raised to a new position by sliding mounting brackets-37 along carrying arms 33a and 33b. The new position is immediately above the initial position with the lower edge of the external form member 36 being immediately adjacent the upper edge of the moldable material last introduced between the external form member and the internal mold member. The external form member is maintained in place by tightening locking bolts 38 as hereinabove defined. This procedure is repeated until the inner mold member has been covered with moldable material from ground surface 24 to opening 13. When the inner mold member is rotated to a new position as hereinabove described, the external mold member 36 is rotated by means of carrying arm members 33a and 33b to a new position directly spaced apart from said inner mold member in its new position. To facilitate rotation of external form member 36, wheels or other means providing easy movement may be attached to the lower end of carrying arm members 33a and 33b for contact with ground surface 24.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications and specific embodiments of the present invention may be made beyond those specifically described herein. However, so long as such modifications and embodiments employ the principles of the present invention as set forth herein, such modifications and embodiments are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

along the periphery of saidv circle, (2) a supportingmember extending through said opening in rotatable and slidable contact with said mold member such as to support said mold member in vertical alignment with respect to a ground surface, with said central section of said mold member being-furtherest from said ground surface, said supporting member being adapted with limiting means adjacent said opening to limit downward slidable movement of said mold' member such that said outer edges of said triangular shaped section of said mold member cannot contact said ground surface, and (3) wedge members adapted to lie between said outer edges of said mold member and said ground surface and to support said outer edges apart from said ground surface such thatsaid central section of said mold member is spaced apart and above said limiting means of said support member, said wedge members having an outer surface of configuration such as to substantially represent a continuation of the surface characteristics of the surface of said triangular shaped section of said mold member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting member comprises a rod having an upper flange at one end and a lower flange at .the other end, said lower flange limiting downward movement of said mold member when said supporting member is in lowered position.

'3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lower edge of said triangular shaped surface sections and the upper surface of said wedge members are in corresponding tapered relationship with said inner surface or said wedge member being of greater vertical height than said outer surface thereof and said upper surface of said wedge member being in non-parallel alignment with said ground surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central widened surface sectionis circular in shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an external mold member is provided, said external mold member being spaced apart from said mold member and adapted for up and down slidable relationship therewith and for rotation in conjunction therewith. 

1. An apparatus for the construction of dome-shaped structures, said apparatus comprising (1) an inner mold member having an arcuate cross-section and having an opening therethrough substantially at its midpoint, said mold member having a widened surface central section surrounding said opening and two substantially triangular shaped surface sections extending from said central section on substantially opposite sides thereof, the edges of said triangular shaped surface sections lying along radii of a circle extending from said opening, and the outer edge of said triangular shaped surface lying along the periphery of said circle, (2) a supporting member extending through said opening in rotatable and slidable contact with said mold member such as to support said mold member in vertical alignment with respect to a ground surface, with said central section of said mold member being furtherest from said ground surface, said supporting member being adapted with limiting means adjacent said opening to limit downward slidable movement of said mold member such that said outer edges of said triangular shaped section of Said mold member cannot contact said ground surface, and (3) wedge members adapted to lie between said outer edges of said mold member and said ground surface and to support said outer edges apart from said ground surface such that said central section of said mold member is spaced apart and above said limiting means of said support member, said wedge members having an outer surface of configuration such as to substantially represent a continuation of the surface characteristics of the surface of said triangular shaped section of said mold member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting member comprises a rod having an upper flange at one end and a lower flange at the other end, said lower flange limiting downward movement of said mold member when said supporting member is in lowered position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lower edge of said triangular shaped surface sections and the upper surface of said wedge members are in corresponding tapered relationship with said inner surface or said wedge member being of greater vertical height than said outer surface thereof and said upper surface of said wedge member being in non-parallel alignment with said ground surface.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central widened surface section is circular in shape.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an external mold member is provided, said external mold member being spaced apart from said mold member and adapted for up and down slidable relationship therewith and for rotation in conjunction therewith. 